Machinery/Industrial Goods

Ecolab profit rises 24% on strong revenue gains

ErinMcCarthy

Ecolab Inc.
ECL, +0.21%
said its fourth-quarter earnings rose 24% on broad revenue growth, led by a sharp rise in its global energy segment's sales.

Minnesota-based Ecolab's traditional product lines include disinfectants and detergents for restaurants, hospitals and other institutions. The company expanded into water-treatment chemicals used by the energy industry and paper industry with its $5.6 billion-purchase of Nalco in 2011. Ecolab viewed its acquisition of Champion Technologies as an extension of Nalco's business.

Ecolab reported a profit of $287.1 million, or 93 cents a share, up from $231.4 million, or 77 cents a share, a year earlier.

Excluding special gains, charges and other items, adjusted earnings rose to $1.04 a share from 89 cents. The company had projected per-share adjusted earnings between $1.01 and $1.05.

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